Over a quarter of small businesses don’t have websites. That’s a huge number of potential customers who are being lost to competitors who do have websites. It’s time to even the playing field. Using SEO marketing services is one way to do that. SEO is a proven strategy that can generate serious results for any small business.
1. Create A Well-Optimized Website
In order to rank high in search engine results pages (SERPs), you need a website that is well-optimized. This includes having a fast loading speed, minimal page elements, and clear navigation. It should also be mobile-friendly, as more than half of all web traffic is on smartphones. The best small business seo services will optimize your site using a holistic approach. This will involve researching your target customers and understanding how they search for what you offer. This will help you craft keyword research and content that appeals to your audience.
It is important to note that some small business SEO services may use Black Hat link-building tactics. These tactics include PBNs, link farms, and blog commenting. These practices can lead to a penalty from Google and permanent damage to your website’s search rankings.
2. Optimize Your Content
The way consumers find products and services today is quite different from five or ten years ago. They open their smartphone and run a search on Google, which can reveal countless options to buy from or contact for help. The good news is, small business SEO is a powerful tool that levels the playing field against larger competitors. It can help them attract more visitors to their websites, generate more leads, and grow their customer base in a short amount of time.
However, it is important to choose the right small business seo services for your needs. Ensure the agency you hire is experienced and has a track record of results-oriented SEO. Also, ask about technical SEO services such as site speed optimization and.htaccess file optimization to boost your rankings.
3. Optimize Your On-Page SEO
SEO can be a complex subject, but it is also a powerful tool that can level the playing field against larger competitors. It can be used to drive website traffic, sales, or inquiries, or to increase foot traffic in a store or showroom. On-page SEO focuses on the content of your site, from the title tag to the image alt text. It involves using your target keywords in a natural way, and it can help search engines understand what your page is about.
It also includes things like keyword research, which can help you understand what people are searching for. There are several tools that can help with on-page SEO, including Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz. These tools can also help you fix technical problems that might be impacting your rankings.
4. Optimize Your Local Listings
Local SEO is a set of practices that focus on increasing your business’ visibility in local search engine results pages (SERPs). In order to rank highly in local searches, it’s important to have a complete local business profile and local citations. Local citations are mentions of your business’ name, address, phone number, and website URL across the web. They make up 11 percent of Google’s local pack-ranking factors.
A local business directory like Whitespark can help you build and manage your local citations. They also provide a free citation audit to identify any errors or inconsistencies in your listings. Inconsistency in your citations can hurt your GMB ranking. Therefore, it’s vital to check and update your listings regularly. This includes ensuring that your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all profiles and directories.
5. Create A Blog
SEO is a powerful tool for small businesses to level the playing field with their larger competitors. It can help them drive more traffic, leads, and sales. It can also increase brand awareness and create a sense of trust with their customers. It can also be more cost-effective than other marketing channels, such as social media or email.
However, it is important to select a reputable best small business seo company. Some SEO agencies use Black Hat link-building strategies, which can damage your website in the long run. Make sure to avoid these services by selecting a company that uses real blogger outreach and follows Google’s guidelines. SEO Discovery is one such company, which has a proven track record of helping small businesses grow their business online.
Last Word
Oftentimes, small businesses fail to do proper keyword research. As a result, they miss out on significant traffic and revenue opportunities. It’s also important that small business understand their own objectives and clearly communicate these to an SEO agency. This ensures that both parties are on the same page and can work together effectively.